[January 11, 2016, Bel Air, MD] Harford County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have filed charges against an Edgewood man in connection to a theft scheme. The suspect stole more than $45,000 worth of merchandise from several Harford County businesses.

In August 2015, detectives with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division became aware of an individual making numerous transactions at local pawn shops. The individual was pawning multiple items that were new or like new. Detectives gathered a description of the individual and were able to determine, after speaking to local businesses at a Harford County Sheriff’s Office ALERT meeting, he was involved in several shopliftings and shoplifting attempts in Harford County that had been occurring since January 2015.

Through investigation, the suspect was identified as Tony Eugene Lindsey, 30, of Edgewood. Additional information gathered during the investigation led detectives to determine that Lindsey had been involved in thefts at more than ten retail establishments in Harford County. During the course of the investigation, Lindsey continued his theft scheme and victimized several additional Harford County businesses. In total, Lindsey stole more than $45,000 worth of merchandise from retailers between January and October 2015, which he then pawned for profit.

A District Court Commissioner issued an arrest warrant for Lindsey on December 4th, 2015 for theft over $1,000 and theft scheme from $1,000 to $10,000. He was arrested without incident later that day. As the investigation progressed, additional information was gathered and more theft charges related to the scheme were filed against Lindsey on January 4th and then again on January 6th, 2016.

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office Area Law Enforcement Retail Together (ALERT) meets quarterly to discuss issues and trends impacting retailers throughout Harford County with the goal to reduce retail crime and increase citizen safety in Harford County retail establishments.